People wanting to adopt a new feline companion can receive one for half price this month at the Marin Humane Society due to a massive influx of black and white cats.

Someone abandoned 24 black and white cats in 14 boxes in the early morning hours of Nov. 25, officials said. Eight days later, the same person — identified from security cameras — made another early morning drop-off of 12 similarly colored cats. All range in age from 3 months to 2 years.

Carrie Harrington, an agency spokeswoman, said a note accompanying the cats said their owners no longer had a place to live.

"We want people to come here (into the office) if they are in a situation where they can't care for their animals," Harrington said.

The Marin Humane Society already had more than a dozen black and white cats when the additional 36 were abandoned, so officials decided to reduce the adoption fee for the felines.

The reduced adoption fees are $62 for kittens less than 5 months old and $50 for cats age 5 months and older. The reduced rate applies to cats that are all black, all white and those that are tuxedo cats.

Harrington said each adoption comes with an array of services.

"All of our animals are spayed and neutered, microchipped, they'll be current on their vaccinations, and all are given medical and behavioral evaluations," Harrington said.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the agency had 21 black and white cats available for adoption. More than 30 are anticipated to be available by the end of the week once their behaviors and health are evaluated.

The society's adoption center at 171 Bel Marin Keys Blvd. in Novato is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. For more information, call 506-6225 or visit www.MarinHumaneSociety.org.